Dynavax, AstraZeneca deal
The partners amended a 2006 deal to discover, develop and commercialize toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists based on Dynavax's second-generation immunostimulatory sequences to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Per the amendment, the companies will transfer responsibility for further clinical trials evaluating the partners' AZD1419 to AstraZeneca from Dynavax following the expected completion next year of an ongoing Phase I trial evaluating the TLR9 agonist to treat asthma. The amendment triggered a $5.4 million milestone payment to Dynavax. In 2011, the partners had amended the deal to give Dynavax development responsibilities for the product through Phase IIa testing. Dynavax said the partners decided to transfer development responsibility to AZ earlier than originally planned to take advantage of the pharma's development expertise in light of the "considerable potential for the program" (see BioCentury, Sept. 11, 2006; Oct. 10, 2011 & Oct. 21, 2013). ...